Officials from West Virginia University and West Liberty State College signed an agreement today (May 10) to offer a collaborative masters of arts degree in education studies leading to principal certification. The collaborative programthe first of its kind in the stateaddresses a forecasted shortage of school administrators in the Northern Panhandle and responds to current higher education reform legislation.


“Under Senate Bill 653, access to graduate preparation for teachers across the state has been identified as a priority,”said WVU President David C. Hardesty Jr.”By joining together on this important program, West Virginia University and West Liberty State College have stepped up to the statewide challenge of bringing affordable, accessible graduate education to an area of the state that will soon experience a critical shortage of school administrators.”


WLSC President Ronald Zaccari noted that tomorrows principals must be trained differently.”Principals today are facing political, economic and social issues of much greater complexity than in the past,”he said.”They will be expected to initiate programs to prepare students for productive lives in a rapidly changing world economy. Our challenge will be to help develop the skills and abilities of men and women who are willing to accept the responsibilities of principalship in the years ahead. I am delighted to partner with WVU in this effort.”


Zaccari said teachers from Brooke, Hancock, Marshall, Ohio and Wetzel counties will make up the primary student population for this program.


“The area superintendents have told us that more than 60 percent of those currently employed as principals in these counties are eligible to retire or will be eligible to retire in the next six years,”he said.”Estimates are even greater for central office administrators who will be eligible for retirement during this same period.”


WLSC Provost John McCullough added,”Everyone benefits from this type of collaborative effort, with the primary beneficiaries ultimately being the public school students of the Northern Panhandle.”


The program will be taught at WLSC s Warwood Center in Wheeling with faculty from both institutions teaching courses.


An undergraduate degree and a minimum of three years of public school teaching experience are required for admission. Students must complete 39 credit hours (13 courses) with a 3.25 grade-point average, plus a field experience/internship with a current school principal. The program will begin in June and end in May 2003.


Officials estimate that approximately 30 teachers will enroll, and the program will likely be offered on Friday evenings and Saturdays for their convenience.


Directing the program will be Dr. Paul Chapman, assistant professor of advanced educational studies at WVU , and Dr. Beth Musser, dean of the School of Education at WLSC .


On hand for the announcement were county school superintendents and other public school and higher education officials.


For more specific information or to enroll in the program, contact Chapman at 304-293-3707 ext. 1425 or Musser at 304-336-8247.